Issue 32 (Spring/Summer 2015)

LANCASTER

Your District Council

CITY COUNCIL

Promoting City, Coast & Countryside

Matters Lancaster City Council’s Community Magazine

Issue 32 • Spring/Summer 2015

Eric returns home…

And he could soon be joined by Ernie

@lancastercc facebook.com/lancastercc www.lancaster.gov.uk

Inside

Your guide to Council Tax

Win tickets to see Basil Brush

Are you registered to vote?

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

Books balanced, but tough times remain ahead IN real terms the city council’s increase in Council Tax equates to an extra £3.98 a year for Band D properties, or 8p a week, from April 2015.

NEXT year the city council’s funding from the government will fall by a further £1.7million, or 16%.

This will mean that over the last five years the amount the council has to spend on services will have reduced by more than £7million.

But there will be no major reductions to services in 2015, with prudent financing meaning the books can be balanced without having to make service cuts.

But don’t forget that the portion the city council keeps makes up just 13% of your overall bill.

Lancaster City Council’s portion of Council Tax is set to rise by 1.99% to help offset the impact of government funding cuts and protect services.

This has been made possible due to a strategy of being more efficient in the way we run our services, a contribution towards the budget from our reserves, and the increase in Council Tax. However, the forecast for the future remains unclear, not least due to the forthcoming General Election and city council elections.

The remainder goes to Lancashire County Council (73%), Police and Crime Commissioner (10%) and Fire Authority (4%).

In addition, some parish and town councils in the district levy a charge for their own expenses.

For subsequent years, despite the continuing progress in identifying savings, the city council faces a budget shortfall of almost £1.5M in 2016/17, rising to just under £2M in 2017/18. The need to reduce services, be more efficient and generate more income is therefore expected to increase.

Falling budgets How the city council’s budget has fallen (in millions) 2010/11

2011/12

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15

2015/16 (provisional)

£24.740

£21.481

£20.190

£19.819

£18.540

£17.052

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

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Your vote is your voice LANCASTER City Council elections and the Parliamentary General Election will be held on Thursday May 7.

City council elections, for all 60 councillors, are held every four years so this is your chance to elect the people who will represent you until 2019.

Parish Councils will also be holding their elections on May 7 and voters will also get the chance to elect new MPs to represent them in Parliament.

To vote in the elections you must be on the Electoral Register by Monday April 20.

Last year the way we all register to vote changed with the introduction of Individual Electoral Registration or IER. IER was introduced nationally to help tackle electoral fraud and enable online registration, which will make it easier and more convenient for you to register to vote.

The majority of people will have transferred across automatically and you will have received a letter last year telling you if this was the case, or if you needed to take any action.

Please remember that if you have moved house then you must re-register.

You can check if you’re registered by phoning the elections helpline on 01524 582905, or by visiting Lancaster Town Hall during normal office hours.

You can register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

• For more information on voting, including registering for a postal vote, visit www.aboutmyvote.co.uk.

SINCE the last city council elections in 2011 there have been changes to the boundaries and names of some wards.

As a result, you may find that you are now voting in a different ward and at a different polling station than you may have previously.

Your poll card, which will be delivered in early April, will have details of your polling station so don’t forget to check before going out to vote.

You can also check your ward and polling station online at www.lancaster.gov.uk/mylocation.

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

Chatsworth Gardens redevelopment gets underway WORK is due to start on the Chatsworth Gardens development in Morecambe’s West End. A key aim of the project is to turn former houses of multiple occupation into family homes at a fair value rent.

In total 92 houses and apartments will be created, offering one, two, three and four-bedroom homes.

The project targets properties in the Westminster Road, Albert Road, Balmoral Road and Chatsworth Road areas and is a partnership between the city council and developer PlaceFirst.

The Manchester-based developer will breathe new life into the area by remodelling and refurbishing, with the first phase seeing the creation of 51 units.

The project aims to build on the success of previous regeneration initiatives in the town.

Work was due to begin this month (March) with the first property completions and handovers to families moving in late in 2015.

The new homes are being built for the private rental market with the aim of improving the quality of private rentals for the increasing number of individuals and families who now rely on the private rented sector for their housing needs.

One of the innovative features of the scheme is the demolition of ugly rear extensions and small, uninviting back yards to create a spacious and attractive residents garden.

This will see the preservation of the Victorian terrace at the front of the properties whilst opening up the rear to create secure gardens that will include high quality hard and soft landscaped shared communal space.

Funding for the project is being provided by PlaceFirst, the Homes and Communities Agency, Lancashire Enterprise Partnership’s Growing Places Fund and the Government’s Clusters of Empty Homes Fund.

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

Eric brings us sunshine MORECAMBE’S tribute to its most famous son was brought home by the council in December following repair work.

The statue, which was vandalised in October, underwent extensive repair work at a London foundry overseen by its creator, Graham Ibbeson.

It was returned to its rightful place watched over by the late comedian’s wife, Joan, daughter Gail, and sons Gary and Steven.

With it came nationwide publicity as TV crews descended on the resort to witness the moment, which was particularly poignant as it would have been Eric and Joan’s 62nd wedding anniversary.

The statue’s return also reminded people in the town of the love and affection for the statue and the pride in being associated with Eric Morecambe.

And another tribute to Eric could be on the horizon after plans were announced for a new piece of art celebrating his legacy.

This time, however, it will feature his comic partner, Ernie Wise, if campaigners can raise the £50,000 needed to finance the project.

The independent project is trying to raise the money to erect the artwork, which will also be designed by Graham Ibbeson.

Fundraising is underway now and will include: • Eric Morecambe Tribute Magazine • Morecambe and Wise celebrity golf tournament • Eric Morecambe tribute dinner • Limited edition maquette of the statue, signed by Graham Ibbeson • All star variety show • Eric Morecambe Day – tribute event in July 2015.

All fundraising is being organised independently of Lancaster City Council and no public funds will be spent on the artwork.

For further information on sponsorship or support contact Jim Cadman at jwc@ericmorecambetribute.org.

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

Coastal defences WORK will start later this year to replace Morecambe’s wave reflection wall.

The wall, which was built in the early 1980s and runs the length of the promenade, is designed to protect approximately 12,000 properties in the event that the sea overtops the main coastal defences.

Unfortunately it has started to deteriorate and needs to be replaced.

The council has been successful in securing £10million to replace the wall and at the same time upgrade facilities along the promenade.

The project is taking place in three phases to reduce the impact on businesses, residents and visitors.

Phase one will focus on replacing the wave reflection wall along Marine Road East between Happy Mount Park and Lord Street.

Work will take place over the summer and measures will be put in place to reduce disruption. The promenade will remain open during construction.

The first phase will start this year and be completed in mid-2016, with the project as a whole estimated to take around six years.

For more information visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/wave-reflection-wall.

Be prepared for flooding HOMES and businesses in the Lancaster district are being encouraged to plan ahead and prepare for the potential of flooding in the future.

Although flood defences have been built locally, thousands of properties are at risk of flooding, and flood defences could be overtopped in very significant flood events.

Last winter was one of the wettest on record and up and down the country people found that they were not prepared for the worst the weather can bring.

Rather than leave things to chance, if you think you may be at risk please collect your free ‘Be Flood Ready’ booklet.

Copies are available from Lancaster and Morecambe town halls, or online at www.lancaster.gov.uk/flooding.

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

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Sheltered Housing – homes with your peace in mind ARE you over 55 and looking for somewhere smaller to live and easier to manage with no repair or maintenance worries?

Our sheltered housing schemes might be right up your street.

Lancaster City Council has 578 sheltered flats and bungalows across the district that are perfect for people who want to remain independent but feel secure in knowing there is someone on hand to support them if the need arises.

There are two different kinds of sheltered accommodation: • Bungalows or flats with their own front door. • Flats which are all under one roof with a communal entrance and communal facilities such as a lounge, laundry and guest room.

Both types of sheltered housing are fitted with Lifeline Connect equipment and receive the services of a scheme manager who checks on the welfare of residents a minimum of two times per week.

The majority of our properties have communal lounges where social events for all residents are held and garden areas which you can enjoy without having to worry about the weeding.

If you own your own home you can still qualify to bid on sheltered flats across the district which include those owned by other social housing providers.

All available properties are advertised via our Ideal Choice Homes scheme at www.idealchoicehomes.co.uk.

Details of available properties can also be viewed by visiting our customer service centres at Lancaster and Morecambe town halls.

To find out more about sheltered and retirement housing in the Lancaster district, please contact the Ideal Choice Homes team on 01524 582005.

We can provide further information on these schemes as well as our own.

If you wish to have a look around some of our schemes we would be more than happy to arrange this for you.

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

Be a litter champion in 2015 COULD you help to keep the district clean by picking up a piece of litter a day?

It costs the city council £1.5 million every year to clean up rubbish. That money comes from taxpayers so every piece of rubbish on the ground is quite literally money being thrown away and wasted.

If every adult resident in the district picked up just one piece a day there would be up to 100,000 fewer pieces of rubbish to clean up.

Of course the best thing would be for the rubbish not to be there in the first place.

The council actively targets litter louts and anyone seen dropping litter can expect to have to pay £80 for the privilege.

If you want to make an even bigger difference to where you live, work or play, Lancaster City Council is keen to help get you started.

Volunteers of any age can get involved to help to clean up their area.

As well as offering the free loan of all the equipment and taking away the litter collected at the end of the day, the council can offer all the information you need to carry out a safe and successful litter pick.

You don’t need a large group to make a difference so if you’re looking for something rewarding to do in 2015 which takes family, friends and neighbours outdoors and put some pride back into where you live, email: cleansing@lancaster.gov.uk.

If you have a litter problem in your area you can report it online at www.lancaster.gov.uk/streetscene.

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

Could you recycle one more item?

THANKS to your continued efforts in recycling as much as you can, the amount of waste being recycled in the district has risen to 40%.

But there’s much more we can achieve simply by recycling a few more items, many of which are often overlooked.

• Items from the bathroom that can be recycled include shampoo/shower gel bottles, perfume/aftershave bottles, aerosols, tissue boxes and cardboard tubes.

• If you’ve had a birthday in the house you can recycle all the gift wrap and greetings cards along with your paper and cardboard.

• Spring cleaning? Then all the empty cleaning product bottles – bleach, toilet cleaner, surface spray and window cleaner can all be recycled with your plastic bottles.

• Aerosols from deodorant, polish, air freshener, shaving foam and whipped cream can be recycled along with your tin cans - just make sure they’re empty.

• All that junk mail including the envelopes with windows can be recycled too.

Small Electrical items Any broken or redundant small electrical items can be recycled at the following recycling sites: • Asda, Lancaster • Morrisons, Morecambe • Alfred Street, Lancaster • Thurnham Street, Lancaster • Heysham Village • Bull Beck, Caton • Salt Ayre and Keer Bridge Household waste recycling centres

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We’re regularly asked why we can’t take other plastics (pots, tubs and trays) and cartons in the kerbside recycling boxes. We know that it is frustrating that these items are excluded and we are working with our partners to find a solution that will allow them to be recycled. In the meantime cartons recycling is available at: ✓ Greaves Park ✓ Salt Ayre Household Waste Site ✓ Keer Bridge Household Waste Site ✓ Greyhound (Halton) ✓ Asda (Lancaster) Other plastic should be placed in grey non-recyclable waste.

Once we are able to recycle these items we will add them to the scheme.

The city council collects thousands of tonnes of recycling every year.

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

Perfect time to apply for affordable housing

Did you know th at over the last 12 mont hs, we have advertised over 600 properties via Ide al Choice Homes, including more than 50 brand new pr operties in Lancaster, Caton, Heysham and Cockerham.

ARE you looking for more affordable housing but think you may not qualify because you work or live in private rented accommodation?

The city council has changed its allocation policy so it might be worth finding out if you’re eligible to join the housing register by getting in touch or taking a look at our allocation policy online.

Some properties are prioritised to applicants who are employed and waiting times for these properties may not be as long as you think. We can also signpost you to other social housing providers within the district who also have their own housing registers.

With new affordable housing developments springing up in the district, there’s never been a better time to join our housing register and choose from wide range of quality accommodation a home that is right for you and your pocket.

Do you have a connection to a rural village or Carnforth?

Priority is given to applicants wanting rural properties (including Carnforth) if they have a local connection to the area. If you are looking for affordable housing in these areas, please get in touch.

a

Applicants can view properties online or in person at Lancaster or Morecambe town halls. Expressing an interest can be done by phone, online, via text or in person.

• To view the council’s allocations policy and information on the range of affordable housing available and how to apply for it visit www.idealchoicehomes.co.uk Alternatively you can email us at idealchoicehomes@lancaster.gov.uk or call the housing options team on 01524 582005.

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

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Lancaster’s latest landmark takes centre stage VISITORS to Lancaster will have noticed some major changes recently, with more than £1.3million being spent on upgrading the city’s historic centre.

As part of the city council’s Square Routes project, the centre’s old and tired paving has been replaced with high quality surfacing and wayfinding marker posts have been erected to help visitors find their way around.

But perhaps the most striking element of the project is the new centrepiece in Market Square.

Its primary function is to provide informal seating but it also serves as a performance

and exhibition space. Through its artwork the centrepiece also reveals some of Lancaster’s rich history.

The artwork comprises ‘A Record of Lancaster’, an imagined greatest hits album for the city, and details nine narratives of Lancaster’s past and present.

The works were led by the city council in close partnership with Lancashire County Council and co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme 2007-2013 and both councils.

Development plan documents approved TWO new planning blueprints which will shape the future of the Lancaster district have been officially adopted.

Lancaster City Council has approved the Other documents which will form Development Management Development the local plan are: Plan Document (DPD) and Morecambe Area • Land Allocations Action Plan DPD. • Arnside and Silverdale AONB Plan These documents have been developed over • Gypsy and Traveller the past four years and will form part of the Accommodation Plan Local Plan for the Lancaster District.

To receive email updates on The Development Management DPD will upcoming consultations, Local Plan be used to assess planning applications documents and other planning policy across the Lancaster district, and the matters, sign up at www.lancaster.

Morecambe Area Action Plan DPD focuses gov.uk/planning-consultation on regeneration initiatives for the central Morecambe area.

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

Platform’s new season line-up A HOST of famous musicians, comedians, international acts and national treasures are taking to the stage at the Platform in Morecambe.

Experienced world class musicians including Snake Davies and his Band, The Manfreds, Woody Mann, The Neville Staple Band, The Raymond Froggatt Show and the Three Degrees are all on the line up.

National treasures making the trip to the Platform include Stuart Maconi, and Basil Brush.

Meet up-and-coming folk act The Young’uns as they bring their beautiful harmonies to the stage in April. For more folk, come to the Celtic Fiddle Festival in May. Beautiful orchestral music will be performed by the Promenade Concert Orchestra, the Moonlight Serenade Orchestra, the Lancaster and District Male Voice Choir and Morecambe Brass Band this season.

Sing-a-long with ABBA tribute Voulez Vous and country music fans will love an evening with Hank, Cash and Cline.

Competition We have a family ticket to see Basil Brush on August 8 at 11am to give away. To be in with a chance of winning simply answer the following question: What type of animal is Basil Brush?

Send your answers by email to communications@lancaster.gov.uk.

Deadline for entries is 5pm on April 30.

Make the most of your Bank Holidays by coming to one of Steve Middlesbrough’s popular disco events. There will be free entertainment on offer as well at Blueswater, Country Kickback, Motown Magic and Morecambe Jazz weekends.

• For a full line up of events from April to July see page 13.

Finishing the summer season in August is Pongo’s Party from Marty Macdonald’s Farm.

Keep up to date at

More details about these acts and more are available in the Spring/summer edition of The Platform brochure. Download online at www.lancaster.gov.uk/platform.

Brochures are available to collect at the Visitor Information Centres in Morecambe and Lancaster.

www. facebook.com Morecambeplatform and www.twitter.com/theplatformlcc

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS April – July April 3: Morecambe Brass Band Easter Concert – The Platform, 7.30pm, £10/£8/£6

4: Superfunk Roller Disco - Salt Ayre Sports Centre, 4.30pm & 6.30pm, £5

4: Andy Fairweather Low and the Low Riders – Platform, 7.30pm, £20

5: Club Tropicana – Platform, 8pm, £10 10: Swing Commanders – Platform, 8pm, £10 12: Bookarts workshop Lancaster City Museum, 10am-4pm, £45

17: Hank, Cash and Cline – Platform, 7.30pm, £18.50/£16.50

18: Stuart Maconi - Platform, 7.30pm, £14/£12

19: Characterful Creature Creations art workshop Lancaster City Museum, 10am-4pm, £45.

24: The Young’uns “Another Man’s Ground” Tour at the Platform – Platform, 8pm, £12 26: Clay the Wouda Way, art workshop - Lancaster City Museum, 10am-4pm, £45

May 1: ‘Voulez Vous’ 25th Anniversary Tour - Platform, 7.30pm, £16/£15

3: Disco Inferno – Platform, 8pm, £10.

8: Talon – Platform, 8pm, £20

9: Moonlight Serenade Orchestra – Platform, 7.30pm,

22: Snake Davies and his band – Platform, 7.30pm,

13: Neville Staple Band – Platform,

£14

19: Raymond Froggatt Show – Platform, 7.30pm,

23: Celtic Fiddle Festival – Platform, 7.30pm, £15

£15.

24: Country Kickback – Platform, 1pm to

21: Blueswater – Platform, 12pm to

midnight, £10

30 & 31: A Splendid Day Out – Platform, 11am to 4pm, £3/under 12s free

June 4: Summer Showtime Spectacular – Platform, 7.30pm, £8.50.

5: Woody Mann – Platform, 7.30pm,

£14

£14.

15: The Manfreds – Platform, 7.30pm,

6: The Three Degrees – Platform, 7.30pm,

£19.50

16: North Lancs Soul Festival – Platform, 12pm to 5pm, free

17: Promenade Concert Orchestra Presents ‘Family Favourites’ – Platform, 3pm, £14/£12/£6

8pm, £14.

£25.

11: Jaleo Flamenco – Platform, 8pm, £17/£16.

12: Lewis Schaffer – Platform, 8pm, free (limited to two per person).

5pm, free.

27-28: Armed Forces Day Lancaster Castle and city centre.

27 & 28: Catch the Wind - Morecambe Promenade/Beach.

July 3: Vin Garbutt – Platform, 8pm, £14.

3 July–15 Aug: Oliver Twist Dukes Outdoor Theatre in Williamson Park.

4: Lancaster Male Voice Choir – Platform, 7.30pm, £8/£1.

5: Morecambe Jazz – Platform, 12pm to 5pm, free.

24 & 25: Rock Back the Clock weekend – Platform, 7pm to midnight, £14 per night.

Details correct at time of going to press. For more information and to buy tickets, contact the event organiser.

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

Tree-mendous improvements underway at Williamson Park

Unlock one of our historic buildings for your special event

THE latest phase of a major improvement plan for Williamson Park’s historic woodland is due to be completed in the next few weeks.

ARE you struggling to find the ideal venue for your wedding, reception or other special event?

The aim of the project has been to restructure the woodland around the Old Observatory to increase light levels, promote natural regeneration within the park and improve accessibility.

The improvements include: • Selective removal of trees to assist natural regeneration, improve the quality of existing trees and restore historic sightlines • Resurfacing of tarmac footpaths to improve accessibility • Installation of 50 bird boxes for native woodland bird species • Installation of picnic benches for families and visitors Funding for the project has come from the Forestry Commission via a Woodland Improvement Grant and follows recommendations highlighted in the park’s Landscape and Woodland Management Plan.

The management plan will guide the future management and development of Williamson Park over the next 5-10 years in ways that respect its heritage and nature conservation value.

• Details of the Woodland Management Plan can be found at www.lancaster.gov.uk/williamsonpark.

The Storey in Lancaster is the perfect venue for a wedding reception.

Lancaster Town Hall, The Storey and the Ashton Memorial all offer a variety of rooms to hire.

Prefer the seaside? Host your event at the Platform, a converted Edwardian train station, ideally situated across from Morecambe promenade with its world class views.

Make an appointment today for a tour of our beautiful buildings and to discuss your individual requirements.

For more information call 01524 582583, visit www.lancaster. gov.uk/roomhire or email: roombookings@lancaster.gov.uk.

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

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Take Pride campaign reaps results THIS spring visitors to local parks will see the results of the hard work and dedication of local volunteers.

Many of our parks have a Friends group who help out in various ways.

Some of the planting that you see this spring is the result of bulb planting events from last year. Volunteers have also helped to maintain and refurbish some of the buildings in Williamson Park and other groups have organised family fun days to encourage communities to come together.

Last year was a busy one for our Friends groups and most took part in the ‘Big Tidy Up’ in October. Local residents and school children grabbed their litter pickers and bin bags and set to work cleaning up the parks and pathways.

Their hard work has been captured on film and is available to watch on the Take Pride in Your Parks webpage: www.lancaster.gov. uk/takepride.

Lancaster City Council’s Take Pride in Your Park campaign aims to encourage people to visit their local park, take pride in its appearance and use its facilities.

People can even take part in the Take Pride in Your Parks campaign at home by completing an online ‘health check’ on their local park. The results will be used over the lifetime of the campaign to measure people’s perceptions of our parks and identify areas for improvement. To take part visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/takepride.

Tree sponsorship scheme OUR tree sponsorship scheme offers a unique opportunity to plant a new tree in one of the council’s parks. The tree can be a special way to remember a loved one or to celebrate a special occasion or an anniversary or just a way of improving the environment.

For more information about the scheme visit www.lancaster.gov. uk/tree-sponsorship-scheme

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

Splash out for free at Happy Mount Park CHILDREN will be having a splashing time in Morecambe’s Happy Mount Park this summer.

The popular Splash Park will re-open in May and has been fully resurfaced for the 2015 season.

The Splash Park is one of the biggest in the region and is free to enter.

Last year 150,309 visitors took the opportunity to cool down with features including the aqua arch, water fences, interactive water jets, sprays and cannons.

Elsewhere in Happy Mount Park there are more free attractions including a play area for young children and an adventure play area for older ones.

With shady woodland areas for quieter moments, sunny spots with beautiful flower beds and plenty of spaces for picnics, there is something for everyone.

Don’t forget the free brass band concerts in the park every Sunday afternoon from the middle of May to the end of August.

You will also find an array of paid attractions including swing boats, trampolines, crazy golf and putting and a miniature railway.

For more information about Happy Mount Park, please visit the web page at www.lancaster.gov.uk/happymountpark.

Playgrounds to go smokefree A NEW voluntary code has come into force to encourage smokers to kick the habit in children’s play areas The city council has brought in a new voluntary smokefree code for council owned play areas, skate parks and multi-use play areas.

It is not a ban on smoking in playgrounds, but encourages the community to protect the health of children by not smoking in play areas.

Research shows that three out of four children are aware of cigarettes before they reach the age of five. Nationally, an estimated 300,000 children under the age of 16 try cigarettes for the first time each year.

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

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Become a market trader for free Lancaster’s Charter Market is giving budding entrepreneurs the opportunity to get a taste of what it’s like to run their own business with the offer of free pitches for the first six months.

The Charter Market can be found every Wednesday and Saturday in the heart of Lancaster’s historic city centre.

The aim of the free pitches is to encourage the expansion of the market to other streets in the city centre which would link up with the current market and improve the offer for its customers and visitors to the city.

To be eligible for one of these free pitches traders must be new to the market (other conditions apply).

Assembly Rooms, Lancaster If you would prefer to trade under cover then the Assembly Rooms on King Street in Lancaster has a space waiting for you at just £16 a week.

The market which specialises in antiques, collectables, vintage and alternative goods as well as arts and crafts is open Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 4.30pm and Saturday from 10am to 5.30pm (except for Bank Holidays).

Festival Market, Morecambe The Festival Market in Morecambe has several full and half stalls available for rent from just £6 per day. Traders benefit from regular visitors looking to combine shopping and sightseeing as well as an increase in footfall generated by annual events taking place both at the market and Morecambe promenade.

Contact us To benefit from the introductory offer for new traders at any of the markets register your interest by completing the online form at www.lancaster.gov.uk/traderinterest or by contacting the market office on 01524 414251.

A list of commodities already represented at the markets and more information about all three markets can be found at www.lancaster.gov.uk/markets.

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

Do your bit to help bathing water quality BOTH of the district’s bathing beaches (Morecambe North and South) passed water quality tests in 2014.

But with tougher EU standards coming into force this year, it’s more important than ever that we all do our bit to improve water quality.

• To avoid blockages and overflows, put disposable products such as wet wipes, cotton buds and sanitary items in the bin, not down the toilet.

• Don’t pour kitchen fats, oils and grease down the sink as they can cause sewer blockages, which can overflow into homes, seas, rivers and lakes.

• Check your home or business is connected to the right drainage system. Wrongly connected plumbing could mean dirty water from toilets, dishwashers and showers going directly into the sea.

Reminder for dog owners DOG owners are being reminded that annual restrictions on taking their pets onto Morecambe’s bathing beaches will come into force on May 1.

Every year the city council restricts dogs from Morecambe South and North beaches during the summer season to comply with the Seaside Award. The awards recognise beaches in England that achieve the highest standards of beach management.

Also remember that the district’s Dog Control Orders require dogs to be kept on leads along the full length of Morecambe Promenade.

For more information visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/ dogcontrolorders.

• If your property is connected to a septic tank, cess pit or package sewage treatment plant, check it’s working correctly and keep it maintained.

• Use a water butt to collect rain water for your garden and help reduce the amount of water running into surface water drains or sewers.

• Put litter in the bin. Broken bottles and cans can cause pollution and be dangerous for children and wildlife, so please take them with you off the beach.

Please visit www.lovemybeach.org to find out more.

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

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Dishing the dirt on dog fouling EFFORTS to tackle the district’s problem of dog fouling are being stepped up with the appointment of a new member of staff to dish the dirt on people who refuse to pick up after their dog.

Enforcement has traditionally been led by the council’s two dog wardens, who have a wide range of other duties.

Although every effort is made to deal with every offence they witness, with resources ever stretched in dealing with stray dogs and other types of dog related offences, they could not always be in the right place at the right time.

As a result, the council has employed a dedicated officer, Phil Bradley, to tackle the issue.

Phil has 15 years’ experience as a civilian and military police dog handler and in assisting local authorities in the recovery and welfare of strays.

Phil said: “Dog fouling is a public nuisance and a serious health hazard and I am looking forward to the challenge of catching those who choose to ruin it for everyone else by refusing to pick up after their dog.“ “Surveillance can be very time consuming and not always productive so anyone who can offer me details which may help me track down an offender, or even just a description and the time of day they tend to frequent an area, I can respond to a problem much more effectively.”

If you are caught not cleaning up after your dog, you will be issued with an £80 fixed penalty fine or may even find yourself prosecuted through the magistrate’s court, where the maximum fine is £1,000.

Anyone with any information which might help identify and catch the culprits of dog fouling should telephone 01524 582757 or email: dogwardens@lancaster.gov.uk.

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

New Opening Times for Lancaster City Museum

Have your say on councillor allowances and expenses BEFORE setting the level of allowances paid to councillors, Lancaster City Council is required to consider the recommendations of its Independent Remuneration Panel.

The Panel recommends the level of allowances and expenses paid to city councillors under the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

New opening times hav e been introduced at Lancaster City Museum. The changes, which were implemented from February 1, see the museu m opening each Sunday, bu t closing on Mondays.

Admission to the museu m is free. For more informati on visit www.lancashire.g ov. uk/museums.

Revised opening times: Tuesday-Sunday: 10am5pm Bank Holiday Mondays : 10am-5pm.

We are seeking up to four more local people to join the Panel, and would like to hear from anyone with an interest in public service who would be willing to contribute to its work. Meetings are generally held three or four times a year.

Members of the Panel must not be employees of, or current elected members of the city council or a parish or town council within its district. They must also not be disqualified from becoming a councillor.

Members serve on a voluntary basis, but any travelling expenses will be reimbursed.

Further information and an application form is available to download from the city council’s website at www.lancaster.gov.uk/irp, or by writing to Town Hall, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PJ, or by emailing: STaylor@lancaster.gov.uk.

If you would like to know more about the work of the Panel, please telephone the council’s Chief Officer (Governance), Mrs S Taylor, on 01524 582025.

Completed application forms must be received before 5pm on Friday May1 2015.

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

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Car park improvements FIVE car parks across Lancaster and Morecambe have benefited from major improvements over the last 12 months, leading to the creation of more dedicated spaces for disabled people.

Dallas Road, Moor Mills No.1, Auction Mart and Nelson Street car parks in Lancaster have all been resurfaced.

A major benefit of the works is the creation of an additional 16 disabled spaces for blue badge holders to use for free.

In Morecambe, Pedder Street car park has not only been resurfaced but also seen a number of other improvements including: • Creation of a wider footway and open space through the top end of the car park to improve access from Pedder Street and Queen Street to the Arndale Centre.

The old bollards have been replaced with new fencing as part of these public realm improvements.

• Planting of nine new trees to replace those which had to be removed because roots were raising the car park footway and carriageway.

• Improved layout and remarking of parking bays and the creation of an additional disabled space.

• Installation of new energy saving LED lighting.

Information on car parks, charges and annual permits can be found at www.lancaster.gov.uk/parking.

PARKING charges in all Lancaster City Council car parks have been frozen.

Income from parking fees provides a valuable source of income to the city council, helping to fund services and keep council tax down.

But following disruption, especially in Lancaster due to the United Utility works, to the district’s road network last year, the council has decided to freeze rates for the coming year.

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

Remembrance and Support LANCASTER City Council has joined forces with other organisations in the district to co-ordinate a series of events over the period 2014-19 to commemorate the First World War. A committee has also been formed to support this year’s Armed Forces Week, which takes place annually at the end of June.

Both of these initiatives indicate the ongoing support provided by the council to the present and retired military members living in our community.

The council is this year also more actively supporting the efforts of Lancaster Military Heritage Group to raise the profile of Armed Forces Day to be held on Saturday June 27 in Lancaster Castle and to which all members of the public are most welcome.

This is an opportunity to thank our past and present service men and women and to make a small contribution to two charities that do so much to support veterans and families from past conflicts. This year’s chosen charities are the Royal British Legion and the Blind Veterans (formerly St. Dunstan’s). Other events include the third in the Commemorative Lecture series which will feature Martin Purdy talking about the Gallipoli Campaign, which will be hosted by the University of Cumbria on Thursday April 23.

There is no charge for this event but if you plan to attend please email: lmhg@live.com.

Lancashire Army Cadet Force Corps of Drums playing in front of Lancaster Castle at last year’s Armed Forces Day.

Freedom visit IN February the crew of HMS Lancaster paid their ‘home’ city a visit as part of their right as Freemen of the City of Lancaster.

Approximately 150 sailors visited Lancaster Town Hall for an inspection by the mayor.

The visit was the first by sailors of the Type 23 frigate since 2007. Together with the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, the crew of HMS Lancaster are one of two armed forces organisations to hold the Freedom of the City of Lancaster in recognition of their links to the city.

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2015

Action Packed Holiday Activities Get active during school holidays and take part in children’s activities hosted by Lancaster City Council.

With sports, arts, nature and museum activities taking place across our portfolio of venues, there’s lots to choose from and something on offer to spark most interests.

With many activities available for £5 or under, they are great value for money as well as being action-packed and fun!

Sign up to our Holiday Activity mailing list and be the first to find out about special early bird deals, discounts and offers.

For all the latest information on our next Holiday Activity Programme and for mailing list sign up, visit www.lancaster. gov.uk/holidayprogramme or call Salt Ayre Sports Centre on 01524 597107.

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Track Star Supports Schools Conference ATHLETICS star Iwan Thomas recently attended Salt Ayre Sports Centre in support of the Primary Schools Sports Conference, hosted

by Lancaster and Heysham School Sports Networks.

More than 25 primary and secondary schools from across the Lancaster and Morecambe district were represented at the day-long event. Teachers and sports coaches participated in a range of specialist talks, workshops and break out activities focused around key educational themes, target setting and teaching techniques, which can be built into curriculum studies.

Keynote speaker, Thomas, spoke of his journey into athletics and how his natural competitiveness and drive, along with encouragement from coaches, helped him to achieve his career goal of becoming European Champion in 1998.

This is the second time Salt Ayre Sports Centre has hosted this prestigious event.

In 2014 Premier League referee Howard Webb attended and spoke to delegates about the intensive training schedule he was undertaking for the then future Football World Cup in Rio de Janeiro.

How to contact us Did you know that information on all the services provided by the council can be found online at www.lancaster.gov.uk?

Below is an at-a-glance guide to our most frequently used telephone numbers.

Customer Services

01524 582000

You can make payments, report issues and make applications for a number of council services using our website too.

Domestic Waste and Street Cleaning

You can also email us with your comments and queries at customerservices@lancaster.gov.uk.

Council Tax

However, if you don’t have access to the internet or need to speak to one of our advisers you can contact us: ✓ In person at Lancaster and Morecambe Town Halls (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday). ✓ By telephone: 9am to 5pm weekdays (10am to 5pm on Wednesdays).

Please note that our customer service centres are closed on all bank holidays.

Location, Location, Location At the touch of a button, and at any time of day or night, you can find out when your bins are collected, when your street is cleaned, where you can recycle things, where the nearest public toilet is, and much more.

Just visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/mylocation and enter your address.

Our My Location service covers every address in the district and gives you 24/7 access to a wide range of location-based information.

01524 582491 01524 582900 Elections

01524 582905 Residents Parking

01524 582972 Housing Standards and Homelessness

01524 582257 Ideal Choice Homes

01524 582005 Council Housing

01524 582929 Tell Us Once

01524 582000 Out-of-hours Emergencies

01524 67099 Markets

01524 414251

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